Music of the Heart(53)

“No Jake!” I cried. For a moment, I was pinned between the two of them. I shook my head at him. “It isn’t worth it—he’s not worth it,” I argued.

As soon as Jake backed down, Tyler chuckled and murmured, “Pussy,” under his breath. Blood boiled within me, and I reached out and slapped Tyler’s cheek. Hard. “Don’t you dare talk to me or about me like that ever again!” I then scrambled off of his lap. “And for the record, you’re the last man on earth I would ever let touch me!” Without a word to Jake, I stormed off to his dressing room. Jake was close on my heels because I almost slammed the door in his face.

AJ and Rhys looked up from their makeup chairs in surprise at my outrage. “What happened?” Rhys asked.

I was almost too upset to speak, so I sputtered, “T-That asshole Mains tried to molest me and then said things…” I shuddered.

AJ shot out of his chair. “I’ll kick his ass!”

Jake held up his hand. “Easy, Terminator, but there’s no need. I took care of it.” He glanced over at me and grinned. “Well, I could say Angel here handled it on her own.”

AJ’s brows rose in surprise. “What did you do?”

“I slapped him.”

With a chuckle, Jake added, “Yeah and she told him off too.”

A wide grin curved on AJ’s lips. “Hell yeah, baby girl. You keep on kicking ass and taking names!”

I giggled. “Thank you, I will.”

From behind me, Jake’s arms snaked possessively around my waist. He nuzzled my neck, and I shivered pleasantly. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I know he said some pretty vile shit to you.”

“He did. But I told him off.”

The makeup artist beckoned Jake, and he sighed resignedly as his arms slipped away from me. I eased down on the couch and began watching all the preparation that went into getting the guys of Runaway Train stage ready.

When the guys were almost finished, I heard the roar of the crowd and the opening music for Vindicated. “I hope he falls flat on his face tonight,” I mumbled.

Rhys and Jake roared with laughter while AJ glanced at me over his shoulder. “If I could find some good cayenne pepper powder and his change of pants, I’d make sure he didn’t enjoy any groupie action tonight.”

I laughed. “AJ, that’s terrible.”

He grinned wickedly as he waggled his brows. “You just say the word. I can always have some roadie go get me some.”

“I think I’m good, but thanks anyway.”

Once the guys were finished with hair and makeup, they were herded into wardrobe. Jake appeared a few minutes later wearing a pair of skin tight leather pants along with a red shirt that stretched across his muscles. “How do I look?” he asked.

“Wow…you look amazing!”

Jake eyed his pants disdainfully. “These are pleather so we can be politically correct. Thank God I get a wardrobe change halfway through the show because I’d much rather be in jeans.”

“Yeah, but those pants are….” I glanced up at him and grinned. “Very, very sexy!”

A wicked gleam burned in his eyes. “Are you saying I need to keep these and wear them for you some other time?”

I laughed. “Now I don’t know about that.”

Jake reached out to pull me to him when Brayden stuck his head in the door. “Okay, Jake, it’s time.”

“Always the worst fucking timing,” Jake muttered under his breath.

He then took my hand and started leading me to the door. I followed along blindly as we weaved in and out of roadies and technicians.

When we got to the wings, Jake turned back to me. “I thought about getting you into the VIP box, but you’ll have a better view here.”

“So I can stay here and watch you guys?” I asked.

“Of course.” He pulled me against him. “I want you as close as possible.”

“Thanks.”

“I also told Frank to keep an eye out for Tyler.”

“While that’s very chivalrous of you, I think I can handle things on my own.”

Jake chuckled. “I’m sure you can, Angel, but it’ll make me feel better knowing that you’re being watched over.”

“Fine. Whatever floats your boat,” I replied.

As Vanquished made their exit off stage, Jake tightened his arms around me. Tyler only gave us a fleeting sneer before stalking away.

Then the stage lighting changed as Runaway Train’s intro music began. AJ entered the stage first, waving to the crowd and throwing up rocker signs with his fingers. From the appreciative whistles and applause he was certainly a crowd favorite. He eased down behind the drum set and twirled the sticks between his fingers several times before beginning an upbeat tempo. I turned my attention from him to where a technician was handing Rhys his bass guitar. He put the strap over his head and adjusted it on his body before jogging out onto the stage, waving manically and grinning like a Cheshire cat. He then joined in with AJ’s rhythm. Already outfitted with his guitar, Brayden nodded his head in time to the beat coming from the stage. I didn’t know how he knew when to make his entrance since the noise was so loud, but then he entered as the stage lights began to flicker and change colors.